Abstract: OBJECTIVE To explore the factors related to viral infection in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, so as to provide targeted treatment programs to further improve the condition of patients with COPD. METHODS A total of 175 patients of with acute exacerbation of COPD from May 2014 to May 2015 were recruited from the inpatient department of the hospital. Nasal swabs were used to obtain secretions and nasal mucosal cells. The detection kit was used to detect 15 cases of respiratory tract virus by fluorescence labeling PCR. Clinically relevant information were recorded by using a clinical registration. Frequency analysis and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS The detection rate of virus infection in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was 38.86%. The most frequently detected viruses included 16 strains of respiratory syncytial virus(22.86%), 10 strains of rhinovirus(14.29%), 9 strains of metapneumovirus(12.86%), 7 strains of human Boca virus(10.00%), 7 strains of coronavirus OC43(10.00%). There was a significant difference in BMI index between positive-virus patients and negative-virus patients(P＜0.05). Univariate and multivariate of logistic analysis showed that diabetes, smoking, respiratory failure, increased times of deterioration previous year, and decreased BMI index were risk factors for virus infection with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) acute exacerbation(P＜0.05). CONCLUSION Viral infection is one of the common causes of acute exacerbation in COPD patients. The diabetes, smoking, respiratory failure, decreased BMI index and increased times of deterioration previous year are risk factors of virus infection of acute exacerbations of COPD patients. It has a certain clinical significance to prevent COPD patients with acute exacerbation of viral infection by controlling weight, avoiding smoking, and reducing blood sugar.